Chapter 22

Sunday, October 31, 1976

It was around 7:30 the next morning and we were in the middle of breakfast when I heard a little voice in my head. <Good morning Mike, Is it okay if I listen in for a while?>

<Good morning Cindi. Yes Honey, it is okay for you to listen in. I'm talking with your father though so I may have to ignore you at times.>

<That's okay. Aunt Thelma told me the same thing.>

"So Mike," John was saying. "The funeral is set for 1:00 PM in the hospital chapel. Are we going to be able to get there by then?"

"I don't see why not John. It's usually a three to three and a half hour drive. Even if it took us four hours, we'd be there by noon."

"I'm just a little worried. I'll have to get Jimmy checked out before the service. We don't have any special clothes for the kids to wear or anything. That embarrasses me a little."

<Cindi, could you get Bonnie for me for a minute?>

<Sure Mike.>

<Hi Mike, this is Bonnie. Cindi said you wanted something.>

<Yeah, could you take a taxi and buy Cindi a nice dress to wear to the funeral? If you could also pick up something appropriate for Jimmy it would be appreciated.>

<Will do Mike. I wasn't thinking about that.>

"John, Bonnie called last night. She says she's going to get a nice dress for Cindi and something for Jimmy this morning."

"I don't know how to thank you guys Mike. I can wear what I have on, so that won't be a problem."

I took out my wallet and handed him one of the company credit cards. "Stop and get something for yourself too, John. You can use this card until we get back from vacation. Just keep receipts."

"You really don't have to do that Mike."

"John, this is for your wife's funeral. We need to show her all the respect she deserves."

<Bonnie, do you have any cash on you that we can give to John for groceries and the like?>

<I have around a thousand, Mike.>

<Don't worry Mike, > Thelma told me. <I have almost five thousand on me.>

"John we are also going to give you a thousand in cash for groceries and gasoline and the like. Call it an advance against your salary if you'd like, but the kids have to eat."

"I was wondering how we were going to manage that," John laughed.

"The refrigerator and freezer in your new place are also full of food," Thelma told him. "Use it up, along with what is in the pantry as well."

<Mike, can I go on vacation with you guys?> Cindi asked.

<You should ask Bonnie that Cindi.>

<I did and she said to ask you.>

<Bonnie, I just worry about how she'll fit in with our life style.>

<I wouldn't worry about it too much Honey. I don't know if you realize it or not, but she was switching between you and Thelma last night watching what you two were doing. I think she's pretty well seen it all.>

<Yeah, but what about the nudity?>

<She's sitting here right now as naked as a peeled grape. The rest of us are too.>

<You're okay with it then?>

<Yes, if you and Thelma are.>

<Thelma?>

<Honey, she could watch or listen to us where ever we are anyway. I don't see a problem.>

<I'll ask your Dad, Cindi. It's up to him.>

<Mental scream>

"John, Bonnie was also telling me that Cindi wants to go on vacation with us. I know you've just met us, but Bonnie wanted me to ask you if it would be okay."

"Hmm. I don't know Mike. I just met you, but you people have done more for us in the last thirty six hours than anyone else has during our entire lives. I trust you and Bonnie and Thelma to take care of her, I just don't want her to be a burden on you."

<Don't let him get away with that Mike, > Cindi practically yelled.

"John, she really wouldn't be a burden. Most of us are too young to get into the casinos anyway, so she would be company for the girls."

<Good one.>

"How long are you going to be gone?"

"At least a week, but probably not more than two. We'd call in every day or so to let you know if plans change."

"It would make it easier on me, and it would help to take her mind off of her mother. Well... I guess it would be okay as long as Bonnie doesn't mind."

This time I was prepared for the shriek that came through my brain.

"Bonnie told me last night she hoped you'd let Cindi go, so I know she's okay with it."

We finished breakfast and hit the road. The drive during daylight hours was much more pleasant. Cindi kept us in touch with our family during the whole trip. We only stopped once to go to the bathroom and to get a cup of coffee.

I was standing at a urinal, doing my thing when it suddenly hit me. Cindi! <Cindi, are you watching me pee?>

<Mental giggle.> <You didn't say I couldn't Mike.>

<I guess I didn't love, > I said as I shook it off and put it away. "Are you watching Thelma too?>

<No Mike. Women don't look at their pussy when the pee. Besides I'd seen women pee before.>

<Cindi, the tickle monster is going to get you this afternoon. You may pee yourself before he lets you go.>

<I know you wouldn't hurt me Mike, so I'm not afraid of you.>

<Good. Ask the girls how bad the tickle monster can be though.>

When we were back in the car, I told Thelma what had happened. She cracked up. "I told you we wouldn't have any privacy Mike. I'm a little jealous though. She's gotten to see you pee and I never have."

Thelma's face went blank for a while then she said, "That little Minx just replayed the scene for me from the time you pulled it out of your pants until you shook it off and put it away. This girl could be dangerous Mike."

I laughed, but I knew she was only half kidding.

The funeral went as well as funerals can go. Jimmy was a lot more upset over his mother's death than Cindi was. Jimmy was pretty much by himself, but Cindi had a six person support system that helped her through it.

John was a real mess. I could tell he still blamed himself for the accident. I leaned over to Jimmy while we were waiting for the service to begin and said, "Jimmy, I know you want to help your Dad get through this don't you?"

He nodded his head and looked up at me. "He needs to be busy all the time so he can't think about what happened. Try to talk to him a lot about sports or things like that. Ask him to get things for you and to help you with things. That'll make him feel needed."

"Okay Mike. When you get back can I talk to you about what happened?"

"You definitely can Jimmy. I hope we can become good friends."

We suggested John and Jimmy stay over a night in a motel, but John wanted to get home. They said their goodbyes and left right after the funeral was over.

Bonnie and the girls had gone out and bought new bed linens after Thelma and I had left yesterday, so we were all set. We decided we wouldn't take off for Vegas until morning, so we had the rest of the afternoon and evening to kill.

Bonnie and Thelma decided they wanted to hit the casinos for a while. Neither were much into gambling, but both enjoyed the slot machines. I asked the girls what they wanted to do, and got mixed results.

Sharon came and sat on my lap. She snuggled in and we kissed for a while. "Would you take us out to dinner, Mike," Sharon asked.

"Of course I would. Would all of you like to go?"

There was a general agreement, so I asked Bonnie if we could drop them off at the casino and use the Suburban to take my lovlies out to dinner. She and Thelma both agreed and said they might have a drink or three while they were playing the slots so it wouldn't be good for them to be driving anyway.

I walked over to the RV park office with Sharon and we asked the manager what the best restaurant in town was. He thought for a minute then gave us a name. "It's pretty expensive though," he told us. I got directions and we went back to the RV.

We hung around the RV until a little after five then Bonnie and Thelma said they were ready. We loaded everyone into the Suburban and then dropped Bonnie and Thelma on the strip. The rest of us went on to the restaurant.

We had so much fun at the restaurant we almost got thrown out. The girls were in a teasing mood, and I'm afraid I wasn't much better. Have you ever tried to get through a meal with four teenage girls and one precocious preteen? Cindi was a trip. She kept us all in stitches with her comments about the people dining around us.

The hilarity stopped when she told us the man at the next table had a gun. "He keeps looking for someone," she told us. "I don't know who it is but he keeps thinking 'bastard' and 'snake in the grass'. I think if the guy comes in he's going to shoot him."

We had finished eating by now, so I signaled the waiter for our check. I paid it and we got ready to leave. "Cindi, where is his gun?" I asked.

"It's in his right jacket pocket."

"Thanks, sweet girl."

As we were leaving the dining room, I stopped a waiter who was passing by. I pointed the man out to him and told him he had a gun in his right jacket pocket. "The guy kept mumbling something about 'killing the bastard'," I told him.

He said he would report it to the manager, so we got out of there quick.

When we were back in the Suburban, I called Bonnie to tell her we were going back to the RV. <Why don't you just pick us up on the way, Mike? This really isn't a lot of fun, and we're both ready to go.>

We soon had everyone back at the RV. When we got inside, Bonnie immediately started to undress. <Bonnie, should we undress in front of Cindi?> I asked.

<I don't see why not, Mike. Cindi broadcast images of you and Thelma making love last night to all of us. She also broadcast the images of you taking a pee this morning. She's seen all any of us has, and she isn't shy about getting naked herself.>

I started stripping as well, and Cindi giggled. "You know young lady, I promised you a visit from the tickle monster. Keep it up and he might visit sooner than you think."

Cindi stuck her tongue out at me and ran into the smaller bedroom.

I finished undressing and sat down on the sofa. A very naked Sharon plopped herself on my lap. We kissed and cuddled for a few minutes, but Sharon seemed a little distracted.

"Is something bothering you Sweetheart?" I asked.

"I don't know Mike. It's just that going to the funeral today reminded me of when my Mom died."

"I know how you feel love. George was in his middle thirties when his mother died. It still bothers me to think about it."

We cuddled for a while longer and I decided I really needed to go to the bathroom. "Cindi, you are not to watch me when I go to the bathroom. Okay?"

"Mike, you're no fun. I can play the other time back any time I want to though," she said with a giggle.

When I came back out, Sharon was sitting on the couch, looking at a picture. I tapped her on the knee and she got up, then parked on my lap again when I was seated.

"Who's picture were you looking at Honey?" I asked when we were settled.

"It's the only one I have of my Mother," she told me as she handed it to me.

To say I was shocked when I looked at the picture would have been the understatement of the year. Could it be?

"Oh my God, Sharon!"

"What's the matter Mike?"

"Sweetheart, when were you born?"

"March 2, 1962."

"Were you born in California?"

"No, I was born in Georgia."

"Oh God! Sharon, I have to tell you a little story. In 1960 and 1961, I, George Halbertson, was a sophomore in high school. Right after the start of the year I started dating a young lady. She was a beautiful girl, and for some reason she loved me. Her parents didn't think I was good enough for her though, and did everything in their power to break us up. It didn't work though and we dated all through the school year."

Sharon was looking at me a little puzzled but I went on.

"Hang with me Sweetheart. You'll see the connection in a minute," I told her.

I looked around the room and saw that everyone was watching and listening to me. "School had just let out and on the fourth of July, she told me she was pregnant. I had been her first and only, so we knew it had to be mine. I told her I wanted to get married, and she agreed. Two days later, I went over to her house and her mother met me at the door. She told me her daughter had left the state and that she was going to have an abortion. I never saw her again."

Sharon now had a frightened look. I hugged her close and kissed her nose. "Sharon, I lived in Georgia at the time. The girl's name was Jennifer Alexander."

"My God! That was my Mom's maiden name."

"Sweetheart, the timing is right. The place is right. The name is right. I think you are my daughter."

Sharon put her head on my shoulder and started sobbing. I held her and rubbed her back. I told her I loved her. She hugged me back, but it was a long time before she started to calm down.

"Sharon, I am so sorry," I told her.

"Sorry? Don't you dare be sorry Michael Allen Green! You have just made me the happiest girl in the world."

I looked over at Bonnie and she just smiled and nodded.